Deb Smithson letter: Students on trip patient and mature

I recently returned from a trip to Spain where my husband and I, along with three other adults, chaperoned 22 high school students from Fargo North and Park Christian high schools for two weeks.

At a time when we hear more bad news than good about our young people, I would like to commend these students for exemplary behavior. While the groups we traveled with displayed embarrassing and at times disrespectful behavior, our Fargo-Moorhead students handled many difficult and frustrating circumstances with patience and maturity beyond their years. They were a delightful and inquisitive group who showed interest in and respect for a new language and culture.

Many people tell me I am crazy to continue to take high school students to Europe where terrorism is a problem. With students like these, I will continue to organize and plan these trips, and we will not allow terrorists to diminish our excitement and enthusiasm for travel, culture, history, and foreign language.

Thanks, students, for representing us so well. You make us all proud.

Deb Smithson

Spanish Teacher

Fargo North High School

Fargo